what's up with our chochins

[team guava pastry]

We have 4 great little chochins and they are all doing just fine. We got them in April. and have been laying real good.
Usually 3 eggs a day and no roosters around to bother them.
Got their privacy in the coop and are not crowded, free range inthe back yard.
Now only one a day and I've looked everywhere in the yard no nest no eggs. Not a big yard either 75by 100

It's like they just said OK that enough. Like they are on strike.

Any ideas??????

Please......

 

[missfitch]

mine are 35 weeks, laid for 2 weeks and quit completely, molt, weather, lighting, and the breed tends to have a drop off for winter!

 

[team guava pastry]

I live in Miami, what's winter??

cold weather here is 60's

so what other factors could it be??

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Cochins are only 'medium' in their production expectations. You might want a few Rhode Island Reds or Leghorns if you want 'high' production. I like Cochins, because they are great moms. But I also want a few eggs.

 

[flakey chick]

What other factors? The amount of daylight. I know it's not that cold here in Florida, but the days are getting shorter. That's what makes the most difference. Mine haven't layed in several weeks- one of them is in a bad molt. You could try adding a light for a few extra hours/day.

 

[team guava pastry]

well the weather has ben kinda weird lately.

What kind of lights are you referring to? And where would i put them, inside the coop in the late afternoon?

again thanks

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Well I don't know for sure, because I never watch the news, but I heard that storm.....Ida, that was heading for us, took a turn and went more in your direction. But yes, if you light the coop, you could improve production. Personally, I'm too much of a penny pincher for that. I like to keep chickens good for everything....eggs, meat, brooding......and I have to say that the cochins I had were for the latter. If I wanted eggs, I chose from a breed known for high egg production, like a leghorn, minorca, ancona, or (if I wanted brown eggs) Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock. I never did have enough eggs, because I sold them and they were always in high demand, but I think I will save up my eggs for hard times, because hard times do come. Molts happen. Bad weather comes. Dogs and preditors frighten hens. Days get short in winter. I think you just got to take the punches when they come.

 

[chickenlady]

How old are they? Cochins are not the best layers in the world. Mine lay like twice a year, I get a handful of eggs from each and then done for months. Cochins make better broodies. You can add artificial lighting in the morning, put it on a timer to come on around 4-5 am however, this still may not make a cochin lay.

 

[flakey chick]

You would put the light inside the coop and leave it on a few hours after sunset or turn it on a few hours before sunrise- maybe with an appliance timer.

 

[team guava pastry]

thanks for all the info, I can put a light with a timer in the coop for them.

They have been laying since we got them in April all 4 of them. off and on

We have grown attached to them, so until something happens to them. They are our girls.

They do make me laugh, we got a goose with them and theyare quite the team.